Label extractor in a labeling machine

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for extracting labels from a stationary label magazine having a geometry in which the axis of oscillation of the label transfer shoe is offse toward the shoe surface from the center of curvature of the shoe surface such a distance that the center of curvature of the shoe describes substantially a straight parallel to the extraction plane of the foremost label in the magazine when the surface rolls over the foremost label. The ratio between the maximum radius of shoe surface oscillation and the distance between the rotor axis and the axis of shoe surface oscillation substantially corresponds to the ratio between one-had of the label length plus one- half of the spacing between successive labels and the shortest distance between the foremost label and the rotor axis.

May 29, 1973 N. JORSS ETAL 3,736,213

LABEL EXTRACTOR IN A LABELING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1971 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.7

| I I I I I I I I I INYENTORS Noeese T doess Ee/a/ 052 ATTORNEY May 29, 1973 N. JORSS ETAL LABEL EXTRACTOR IN A LABELING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 23, 1971 INYENTORS n aeaaer M02625 ATTORNEY May 29, 1973 N. JORSS EI'AL 3,736,213

LABEL EXTRACTOR IN A LABELING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1971 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 IQ VENTORS #025627 x/oess 5910/ 052 QZA /A ATTORNEY May 29, 1973 N. JORSS ETAL 3,736,213

LABEL EXTRACTOR IN A LABELING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1971 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 29, 1973 N. JORSS AL 3,736,213

LABEL EXTRACTOR IN A LABELING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23} 1971 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 mysmons Moeeaer Jo'eas ATTORNEY May 29, 1973 JORSS ETAL LABEL EXTRACTOR IN A LABELING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 23, 1971 m z twroes A ae 5527* ua'less Arne/v: vs

United States Patent Olfice 3,736,213 Fatented May 29, 1973 3 736 213 LABEL axraacron iN A LABELXNG MACHINE Norbert Jiirss and Erich Eder, Neutraubling, Germany,

assignors to Hermann Kronseder, Neutraubling German Filed Feb. 23, 1971, Ser. No. 118,117 Claims priority, application Germany, Mar. 6, 1970, P 20 652.9; France, Nov. 6, 1970, 7040126 Int. Cl. 1365c 9/12; B6511 3/06 US. Cl. 156-570 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for extracting labels from a stationary label magazine having a geometry in which the axis of oscillation of the label transfer shoe is offset toward the shoe surface from the center of curvature of the shoe surface such a distance that the center of curvature of the shoe describes substantially a straight line parallel to the extraction plane of the foremost label in the magazine When the surface rolls over the foremost label. The ratio between the maximum radius of shoe surface oscillation and the distance between the rotor axis and the axis of shoe surface oscillation substantially corresponds to the ratio between one-half of the label length plus one-half of the spacing between successive labels and the shortest distance between the foremost label and the rotor axis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Examples of the prior art are shown in US. Pats. 3,450,591; 3,532,585; 3,546,047, British Pat. 1,129,822 and French Pat. 1,471,570.

In certain prior art devices the curvature of the shoe surface corresponds to the curvature of the rotor or drum on which the shoe is mounted. The oscillation of the shoe is controlled by a cam in such a Way that the shoe surface rolls over the foremost label in the magazine. The radius of oscillation of the shoe surface also differs from its radius of curvature so that the rolling movement of the surface over the foremost label is almost rectilinear. However, such devices have a basic drawback in that the distance between the end of the surface of the label in its extraction plane and the center of oscillation of the shoe (sometimes herein designated as maximum radius of oscillation) is relatively large. This is necessarily true because of the identical curvature of the shoe surface and the circumference of the rotor. Accordingly, the several shoes on the rotor can only be arranged at a relatively large circumferential spacing, thus to avoid interference between the shoes as they oscillate during the extraction process. This limits the number of such shoes that can be mounted upon the rotor. In order to achieve high output, such a rotor must be turned very rapidly. This imposes heavy loads upon the gear train and increases the Wear on the moving parts. Accordinglythe maximum capacity of such apparatus is limited.

In such prior devices it has been proposed to increase capacity by using two label extracting mechanisms with accompanying glue applying devices. While this technique does increase the output, it requires more physical space and greatly increased costs for duplicating equip ment. Moreover, the operator of the machine must pay attention to two glue applying mechanisms thus increasing the requirement for human surveillance over the machine.

Another of the prior art devices comprises a rotor having several cylindrical label transfer members thereon. These transfer members are periodically and irregularly driven by means of a differential gear driven by a sun wheel and controlled by a cam (US. Pat.

3,546,047). This apparatus is adapted for arrangement of a large number of transfer rollers relatively closely spaced around the periphery of the rotor because in such devices the curvature of the label carrying surface of the label transfer roller is much smaller than the rotor curvature. However, this device also has. drawbacks. Costs are quite high as every transfer roller must have its own differential gear. Moreover, the middle part of the labels in the stack in the label magazine is pressed in by the transfer rollers rolling over the foremost label and pushing the label pack rearwardly in the magazine as the label transfer rollers traverse the front face of the magazine. The constant fore and and aft shifting of the label pack in the magazine tends to loosen the label stack and the foremost label may fall out of the magazine. Moreover, the label stack does not rebound quick ly enough if the labels are extracted at high speed and hence their front surfaces may not receive a good coating of glue from the label transfer roller. A further drawback is that the label transfer rollers have a relatively small radius of curvature so that the label edges tend to peel off from the glued label transfer surfaces, due to their residual stress. This is particularly true when the labels are relatively rigid. These factors contribute to inexact transfer of the labels to the labeling transfer cylinder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention eliminates the deficiencies of the prior art devices and makes it possible to group a relatively large number of label transfer shoes on a single rotor to extract labels from a single stationary label magazine and to effectively transfer these to a labeling cylinder at a relatively slow rotor speed and yet achieve large output. The apparatus of the present invention also is adapted for transferring relatively rigid labels without loss thereof from the transfer apparatus.

Apparatus embodying the present invention is characterized in part by a geometry in which the curved label carrying surface of the label transfer shoe is in substantially continuous, even-pressure contact with the foremost label in the label magazine throughout the period of time that the transfer shoe sweeps past the magazine. Accordingly, the label receives an even coating of glue from the transfer surface and there is no substantial variation in pressure between the shoe and the stacked labels during each transfer sweep.

The geometry of the moving parts must be carefully designed according to a formula or spatial relationship between the size and curvature of the parts and the location of their respective axes of rotation and oscillation. Close adherence to this formula or spatial relationship will result in the center of curvature of the label transfer shoe moving in substantially a straight line parallel to the flat extraction plane of the foremost label in the label magazine throughout the traverse of the shoe across the complete length of said label.

Moreover, ir order to group the maximum number of label transfer shoes about the periphery of the rotor, there must also be reasonably close adherence to another geometric relationship by reason of which labels are being extracted from the magazine in almost continuous succession, thus not to wsate any substantial part of the time cycle of rotor rotation.

For the foregoing purposes the geometry of the parts is such that the radius of curvature of the arcuate shoe surface is less than the radius of the orbit of the shoe about the rotor axis. Also, the axis of oscillation of the shoe is disposed on a radial line which bisects the shoe surface and is offset toward said surface from the center of curvature of said surface such a distance that said center of curvature describes substantially a straight line parallel to the extraction plane of the foremost label in the magnazine when the surface rolls over the foremost label. Also, the ratio between the maximum radius of shoe surface oscillation and the distance between the rotor axis and the axis of shoe surface oscillation substantially corresponds to the radio between one-half of the label length plus one-half of the spacing between successive labels and the shortest distance between the foremost label and the rotor axis. Also, the maximum radius of the shoe surface oscillation substantially corresponds to the difference between the longest distance between the foremost label and the rotor axis and the distance between tbe rotor axis and the axis of shoe sur face oscillation. 1

With the foregoing geometry it is possible to arrange the greatest number of transfer shoes upon the rotor and to obtain the greatest output at the slowest rotational speed thereof. It also assures that the labels are properly and smoothly extracted from the stationary label magazine, notwithstanding the fact that the shoes have an arcuate surface. The labels are extracted from the label magazine in rapid succession with substantially no time lag between successive label extracting sequences. These labels are then transferred to the labeling cylinder in quick succession and at relatively high speed.

Prior art devices which have oscillating magazines achieve high speed operation by the arrangement of multiple magazines having either common or multiple label extracting mechanisms.

Prior art devices which have stationary magazines achieve large output only if multiple magazines and multiple extracting devices are used to supply a common labeling cylinder.

The apparatus of the present invention achieves large output with a single stationary label magazine and a single label transfer turret or rotor which has a relatively low speed of rotation compared to the prior art devices.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the label transfer shoes have a curvature which is considerably less than the curvature of the rotor on which they are mounted. Accordingly, when oscillated, these transfer shoes do not swing out beyond the extraction plane in which the foremost label in the magazine is disposed. This makes for a relatively compact arrangement and a short are of movement of the shoe and facilitates increasing the number of such shoes that can be disposed upon the rotor.

The curvature of the label transfer shoes is nevertheless larger than in those prior art devices which utilize cylinders. Accordingly, relatively rigid labels can be transferred without their tending to peel off of the glued label carrying surface.

In preferred embodiments of the invention the shoes are rotated by control arms which have cam rollers which follow a fixed cam track. The control arms have toothed segments which mesh with a gear wheel fast to the shaft upon which the shoes are mounted. A very simple arrangement of such control arms has been devised in which the arm for one shoe shaft oscillates about the shaft of the next adjacent shoe shaft.

Another aspect of the invention relates to the copera tion between the label transfer shoe and a driven glue roller from which the shoes pick up an even coating of glue prior to their extraction of labels from the magazine. The swing arm of the cam actuated control apparatus is manned in a somewhat different pattern as the shoe approaches the glue roller. The geometry aforesaid, together with the profile of the cam, is such that the center of curvature of the shoe describes an arc of a circle centered on the axis of the glue roller as the shoe sweeps past the glue roller. Accordingly, the entire surface of the shoe is subject to uniform pressure against the glue roller during the tranverse of the shoe past the roller. In one embodiment the transverse shoes are swung in the same direction as the support rotates as the shoes sweep past the glue roller. In another embodiment the shoes swing in the opposite direction of support rotation as the shoes sweep past the glue roller.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will appear from the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the geometry of the parts of the label extracting apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end view illustrating one embodiment of control arms, cams, etc., for the shoes.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the action of a shoe in the vicinity of the glue roller as the shoe is swung in the same direction as the rotor turns.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating the action of the shoe which is turned in a direction opposite the movement of the rotor.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing a modified embodiment of control arm, cams, etc.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side View of the apparatus shown in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

FIG. 1 illustrates the important geometric relationship between the various parts of the label extractor. Transfer shoe 1 has a semi-cylindrical label carrying surface 2 which has a uniform radius of curvature r The center of curvature r is indicated by the reference character 6. The axis of rotation of the rotor or drum 8 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is indicated in FIG. 1 by reference character 5. With the shoe 1 in its full line position shown in FIG. 1, the axis of shaft 7 upon which the shoe 1 is mounted is offset toward the label stack 3 and is indicated by reference character 4. The amount of offset between the center of curvature 6 and the axis of shoe rotation 4 is determined by a formula as hereinafter explained.

Various other reference characters of FIG. 1 are explained as follows:

e is the shortest distance between the foremost label and the rotor axis 5.

e is the longest distance between the foremost label and the rotor axis 5. As indicated in FIG. 1, this distance extends to the ends of the foremost label in stack 3.

r is the longest radius of oscillation of the transfer shoe 1 around its axis of oscillation 4. This radius extends to the corners of the shoe 1.

1' is the radius of curvature of the label carrying surface 2 of the shoe 1.

r is the radius on which the shoe axis swings with the rotor and is the distance between the rotor axis 5 and the axis of oscillation 4.

l is the label length.

s is the distance between labels successively extracted from the label magazine and measured on the circumference of the rotor 8.

FIG. 1 also illustrates the manner in which the cam operator, hereinafter described, functions to position the shoe with respect to the foremost label at various positions as the rotor turns clockwise about its axis 5 to roll the shoe across the label face. When the shoe first contacts the label it will be in its broken line position shown in FIG. 1. At this point r and r are substantially in a min The objectives of the invention and achievement of the desired geometry are less fully attained when the varia tion exceeds five percent, but will still be achieved pro tanto.

By reason of the foregoing geometry the center of curvature 6 describes substantially a straight line parallel to the extraction plane of the label as the center of oscillation 4 moves on a circular path on its radius r from the broken line position of the shoe 1 to the full line position of the shoe and thence to another position at the left side of the figure, allochiral to its broken line position at the right side of this figure. During the label extracting sequence, the label carrying surface 2 of shoe 1 rolls over the foremost label with a uniform pressure and without slippage or material fore and aft movement of the label stack in the magazine. This movement transfers a coat of glue to the label in a uniform manner and concurrently picks the label out of the magazine and adheres it to the shoe surface 2, without disturbing the location or orientation of the label stack 3.

In effect, the shifting line contact of surface 2 with the label does not wander substantially from the extraction plane. It travels from e to e and back to e in a smooth manner. Moreover, r is kept as large as possible, this being a great advantage for extracting relatively rigid labels from the magazine.

As soon as one label is extracted and the shoe passes through distance s, the next shoe makes first contact with the next label in stack 3 and starts the extraction process.

FIG. 2 shows a complete rotor 8 with a complete set of shoes 1 mounted adjacent its periphery. In this particular embodiment there are eight transfer shoes 1 rotatable on the axes of shafts 7. In the FIG. 2 embodiment, a glue belt 9, as guided by the rollers 10, is arranged tangentially to the path of the shoes. In this embodiment the glue belt 9 is driven in the same direction as the movement of the rotating drum 8. The shoes 1 will roll on the gluing belt 9 as they traverse the sector of the drum which faces the gluing belt.

Shoes 1 which have extracted labels from the stack 3 rotate clockwise as shown in FIG. 2 until they reach their position opposite the labeling cylinder 11 which has gripping fingers 12 which remove the labels from the shoes 1, as in the prior art devices hereinbefore described. During the course of this transfer the shoes are rotated clockwise as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of apparatus for oscillating shoes 1 about the axes of their shafts 7. There is a fixed cam track 13 and a series of control arms 15, one for each shaft 7. Track 13 is followed by a series of cam follower rollers 14, respectively mounted on the control arms 15. Springs (not shown) keep the rollers 14 in contact with the track 13. The respective control arms 15 turn about the axes of respective shafts 16 mounted on the drum 8. Each control arm 15 is further provided with a segment 17 of internally toothed gear which meshes with a gear wheel 18 at the lower end of its shaft 7. The swinging of the arm 15 causes the shaft 7 to turn, and with it the shoes 7 mounted on the shaft. The contour of the cam track 13 and the dimension and geometry of the arms 15, shafts 16, etc., is such that the shoes 1 will be swung as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6.

Another embodiment of apparatus for oscillating the shoes 1 is shown in FIG. 7 in which the control arms 40 are pivotally mounted on shafts 7, rather than being mounted to swing about separate shafts 16, as in FIG. 3. Arms 40 have toothed external segments 41 which mesh with the gears 18 on the shafts 7. Arms 40 have cam follower rollers 42 which ride in the cam track 43. The embodiment of FIG. 7 is preferred because the cam track 43 is much larger than the cam track 13 of FIG. 3. Moreover, the elimination of the separate shafts 16 of FIG. 3 reduces the number of parts required. The arms 40 are longer than the arms of FIG. 3. Accordingly, the geometry and arrangement of FIG. 7 affords greater accuracy and precision in the control of the oscillatory movements of the shoes 1. The cam track 43 has opposed side surfaces 43a and 43b which respectively contact separate roller surfaces 42a and 42b for positive control of arm movement in both directions.

FIG. 4 illustrates some of the parts hereinbefore described and shows the rotor 8 provided with a ring gear 19 driven by the spur gear 26. This figure illustrates shoes 1 with vertically separated label carrying surfaces 2, as adapted to concurrently transfer neck and shoulder labels. The upper ends of the shaft 7 are supported on a disk 21 rotating in unison with the drum rotor 8.

FIG. 4 also shows a cylindrical gluing roller 22 which substitutes for the glue belt 9 of FIG. 2. Roller 22 is preferably made of yieldable absorbent material mounted on a shaft 23 driven by pinion 24 which receives power from gear 26 through intermediate gear 25. Glue roller 22 is driven in synchronism with rotor 8 and at a desired rate, as hereinafter explained. Glue roller 22 is supplied with glue through a feeder 27 which receives glue through a hose 28. Excess glue is collected in the sump 29 and is returned by a hose 30 to the glue pump, not shown.

FIG. 5 shows the coaction of the label transfer shoes 1 with the glue roller 22 in such a way that the surface 2 of the shoe is uniformly pressed against the glue carrying surface of the roller 22 for complete and even transfer of glue thereto. In the FIG. 5 embodiment a stationary cam of the type shown at 13 in FIG. 3 or at 43 in FIG. 7 can be incorporated and is so profiled that the cam follower roller 14, 42 as shown respectively in FIGS. 3 and 7 will first swing the shoe to its broken line position shown at position I in FIG. 5 and will then oscillate the shoe clockwise successively through its full line position II and then to the ultimate broken line position III. The glue roller 22 turns counterclockwise as indicated. By reason of the geometry previously described, the center of curvature 6 of the shoe 2 will at all times be disposed on an orbit 44 centered on the axis of glue roller shaft 23. Concurrently, the axis of oscillation 4 of the shoe 2 moves on an orbit 45 centered on the rotor axis 5, with the radiusr, (FIG. 1).

During the oscillating movement of the shoe 1 the lineal displacement of the shoe surface 2 against the surface of the glue roller 22 tends to vary somewhat because of the fact that the shoe is rotating at a constant speed about its axis of oscillation 4 and because the center of curva ture 6 of shoe surface 2 is offset from axis 4. The speed of displacement is faster in the broken line positions I and III than it is in the full line position II. The constant speed of rotation of the roller 22 is desirably adjusted to match the speed of shoe surface displacement at positions I and III, some slippage being allowed in position II. This insures a good coating of glue near the ends of shoe surfaces 2. If desired, the contour of cam tracks 13, 43 could be shaped to provide exact speed matching between the glue roller 22 and shoes 1. Moreover, the gears driving the glue roller shaft 23 can be shaped to produce irregular speed of rotation of the roller 22, thus to match the speed of shoe rotation. Alternatively, the roller 22 can be driven at an average speed with respect to the varying speeds of rotation of the shoe 1.

As indicated in FIG. 5, because the orbit 44 of the center of shoe surface curvature 6 is centered on the axis of shaft 23, the circumference of the shoe 2 will have a constant pressure against the roller 22, notwithstanding the offset of its axis of rotation 4 from the center of curvature 6.

A modification is shown in FIG. 6. Here the transfer shoes 1 are oscillated in the opposite direction of rotation of the rotor 8. The first position of the shoe is indicated in broken lines at position IV, an intermediate full line position at position II and the final position at broken line position V. However, in this arrangement the center of curvature 6 also is disposed on the same orbit 44, thus to produce uniform gluing pressure between the roller and the shoe surface. The speeds of displacement between the shoe surface 2 and the roller 22 are again varied as the shoe sweeps past the roller.

In FIG. 5 the terminal position III of the shoe 1 is advantageous because the shoe is then nearly in its proper position as shown at the right side of the figure for coaction with the label magazine to extract a label therefrom. In the arrangement of FIG. 6 the shoe has to be swung clockwise about 180 degrees from its position V to its position indicated at the right side of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 has the advantage that because roller 22 rotates clockwise and the shoe 2 is swinging counterclockwise against the clockwise rotation of the rotor 8, the speed of rotation of the roller 22 can be relatively small compared to what it must be in the FIG. 5 arrangement.

A specific example of the geometric relations illustrated in FIG. 1, for one practical embodiment of the invention, is as follows:

e =17i5 mm. e 187.2 mm. r =5l.2 mm. r ==55.0 mm. r,=135.5 mm. l=130.0 mm. s=7.8 mm.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for extracting labels from a stationary label magazine and including a rotor and a plurality of oscillating label transfer shoes mounted near the periphery of the rotor to move sequentially past said magazine, said shoes having arcuate label carrying surfaces, the improvement in the geometric arrangement of said apparatus in which the radius of curvature of the arcuate shoe surface is less than the radius of the orbit of the shoe about the rotor axis,

the axis of oscillation of the shoe is disposed on a radial line which bisects the shoe surface and is offset toward said surface from the center of curvature of said surface such a distance that said center of curvature describes substantially a straight line parallel to the extraction plane of the foremost label in the magazine when the surface rolls over the said foremost label, and

the ratio between the maximum radius of shoe surface oscillation and the distance between the rotor axis and the axis of shoe surface oscillation substantially corresponds to the ratio between one-half of the label length plus one-half of the spacing between successive labels and the shortest distance between the foremost label and the rotor axis.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which the maximum radius of shoe surface oscillation substantially corresponds to the difference between the longest distance between the foremost label and the rotor axis and the distance between the rotor axis and the axis of shoe surface oscillation.

3. The invention of claim 1 in which said label transfer shoes are mounted on shoe shafts having gear teeth, in combination with control arms having mating teeth, pivot shafts for control arms, cam followers on the control arms and a stationary cam track for the followers.

4. The invention of claim 3 in which the pivot shafts constitute the shoe shafts, a control arm pivoted to one shoe shaft having its teeth meshing with the gear teeth on the next adjacent shoe shaft.

5. The invention of claim 1 in which a glue roller is mounted for rotation adjacent the path of said shoes, the center of curvature of the shoe surface orbiting on an arc of a circle centered on the glue roller axis as the shoes move past the glue roller.

6. The invention of claim 5 in which the transfer shoes rotate in the same clock direction as the rotor as the shoes move past the glue roller and the glue roller is rotated counter thereto.

7. The invention of claim 5 in which the transfer shoes rotate counter to the clock direction of the rotor as the shoes move past the glue roller and the glue roller is rotated in the same clock direction as the rotor.

8. The invention of claim 5 in which the glue roller is driven at the same speed as the end surfaces of the shoe and is driven at a slippage speed near the middle surface of the shoe.

9. The invention of claim 5 in which the glue roller is driven at an irregular speed matching the speeds of both the end and middle surfaces of the shoes.

10. Label transfer apparatus having a rotor, a plurality of oscillating label transfer shoes mounted on shafts near the periphery of the rotor, said shafts having gears, and control apparatus for actuating said gears and comprising control arms with gear teeth meshing with the shaft gears, and means pivoting the control arm for one shoe to the shaft for the next adjacent shoe.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,591,168 7/1971 Zodrow 156-568 X 3,532,585 10/1970 Kronseder et al 156-568 3,546,048 12/1970 Dullinger et a1. 156--568 X 3,594,258 7/1971 Dullinger 156-570 PHILIP DIER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 27136 

